Autumn snuck up on us like a practiced thief in the night and once it had,
I found myself looking around at the world with the glee of a child. I had
smelled it in the air, and felt it in the subtle changing of the
temperature, but it takes a certain amount of cold nights before the trees
take the hint and start to hibernate for winter. I had always enjoyed
autumn. It was one of my favorite seasons, tied with spring. Both were
seasons of change, you could see the world around you going into its winter
slumber and then waking with the coming of spring. Such was the delight of
living in a climate where the seasons did change. However, fall held
Halloween, my favorite of all holidays. Maybe it was because I had always
loved dressing up; maybe it was because you could be anything or anyone you
wanted to be for one night, whatever it was I loved it.
I had never been to the east coast in the fall and the colors amazed me. In Colorado we have some of the color, there are trees that change into those amazing colors of fall, and we have the aspens for crying out loud. There are people who go to Aspen, Colorado just to see the golden color of the leaves, but when you live in Colorado the novelty of it never hits you. As with most things that are right in front of your face you don't realized the beauty of what is right around you, when you see it all the time. Which might explain Spots amusement when I woke up one morning and looked out the window to find an explosion of color. I didn't know that trees really turned that color of bright red, or that color of brilliant orange.
I was positively giddy when I looked around as we made our daily trek to the distribution center in Brooklyn. Normally I walked like a zombie, not really looking around and not really wanting to, we had to pass through parts of town I wouldn't be caught dead in by myself. Actually I would be caught and dead if I walked through there by myself. No more late night romps to calm my nerves like I had taken in Manhattan, I could take care of myself, but at the same time I wasn't stupid.
The colors swirled around me like an artist's canvas of reds, golds, oranges, and leaves made their silent swirling descent to the ground. It had snuck up on me and I was so excited I practically danced instead of walked. Glimmer watched me with a small smile on her face, Spot just shook his head and the other boys shied away from me like skittish horses.
There was one aspect of me my mother made me promise before her death that I would never loose and that was the ability to look at the world through the eyes of a child. I had never really been a child more of an adult trapped in a child's body, but there were always the moments when I could loose myself in the joy of the world as only a child can. I could find wonders when I chose to look in everything especially nature. She had loved that part of me, taking me to the mountains or on special excursions just to watch me dance with joy. For the first time since her death I found the memory wasn't followed with the heartbreaking pain that always accompanied thoughts of her. Instead it had become a beautiful memory tinged with sadness at her passing, but I had learned to move on and remember her. I smiled to myself as Spot handed me my share of the papers and I followed him, Glimmer was at my side to our selling spot. As we did every day we split up always with in view of each other, but with enough space for us all to work our magic on the crowd.
The sky was clouding over as we broke for the day and headed back for the Lodging House. Glimmer and I chattered while we walked as girls as do, Spot was only half listening until one particular subject caught his attention. I had brought up Skittery both of us figuring he was too far ahead at that point to really hear what we were saying. Her face was glowing as she told me about the previous night she had spent with him while Jack and I had been keeping her older brother busy. She had been almost grateful for the attention I had brought upon myself it gave her more of a chance to slip away without Spot noticing.
"Whatta ya mean ya went for a walk with Skittery down at the docks?" Spot demanded his eyes as cool as the wind that was biting through my warn shirt as if it were nothing.
"We went for a walk, it was nothin." Glimmer said quickly looking at me for help. I shrugged unsure of how to handle over protective big brothers, I had never had one and I had never been the over protective older sibling. My brother and sister made it clear that I was not to be involved in their lives.
"Went for a walk?" Spot growled. " I've been for a walk down by the docks before, I know all about walks down by the docks."
"Just because she's going for a walk with a boy does not mean she's doing anything other than walking." I broke in coming to Glimmer's defense. "Just because she is spending time in the company of a boy does not mean she's acting as you would."
I had had enough of men who assumed the worst of women. It was a stupid double standard. Women were supposed to have the ability to stop a man as if their emotions were not all tied up in everything. As if they weren't confused by the emotions and the urges that if they acted on would brand them as a slut. Yet at the same time they weren't believed to have the brains God promised an oyster, therefore it was expected they would allow a man anything he wanted. So they were expected to stop a man, but then not expected to actually stop him. Why couldn't the man try to control himself? He according to the standards he had all the power here, but no men were not only expected to 'sow their oats', they were almost encouraged to. It was a double standard that was not new, some things hadn't changed that much, but I found it no less frustrating.
"Ya ain't gonna see Skittery any more Gabrielle." He said in a tone that would have made the strongest of men cower. It frustrated me that he was ignoring my input and I glared at him.
"Ya ain't gonna stop me." She replied stomping her foot and giving him a mutinous look.
"I'll lock ya in the broom closet if I gotta." Spot snapped his eyes on me, but his words for Glimmer. " I know what kinda guy he is, I know more about his girls than you care to know little girl."
" I know about his girls, I know how he treated girls remember I've been around him my whole life, but I ain't gonna be like them. She retorted. "He don't treat me like that. Ya ain't gonna stop me from seein him."
"I can do what I like, ya think he's gonna keep comin around if I tell him not to?" Spot asked, "Do ya think if I tell Jack that Skittery's not allowed around here or it means war with Brooklyn, Skittery will come still? Na, he'll forget all about ya and find some other broad."
"He won't forget about me." Glimmer hissed. "And ya wouldn't dare."
"Whatta ya gonna do to stop me?" Spot's voice was the cocky one of a man who knows he's got the upper hand.
"Stop!" I cried making them both look up from where they stood toe to toe and eye to eye each vying for the upper hand. "Look Spot if you're so worried about it have one of your boys watch them both. Then Glimmer can see Skittery and you can make sure nothing is happening."
"You stay out of it." he responded his anger now turned full force on me. I had forgotten the greatest of all rules when dealing with siblings, never ever jump into an argument.
"I will not stay out of it," I snapped not one to back down because some hotheaded, arrogant ass was yelling, just who did he think he was? "You are being an egotistical prick. First of all I can't believe you would accuse your sister, who you know better than anyone else of having relations with someone. You just accused her without a shred of proof, just the fact that she is interested him. News flash, she's old enough to marry, she's going to be interested in boys, if she wasn't you should be worried. Secondly if you pulled your head out of your ass you would see that forbidding her to see him is only going to make him more interesting and more likely to do what you are afraid she will do. Thirdly she's got to grow up some time Spot, she's not a little girl anymore face it. Eventually she will grow up, get married, and have babies, because that's all you over bearing men will let us do."
"When ya gonna learn ya place Cameo?" Spot asked that smirk I loved to hate back on his face. I found I was itching for a fight, so tired of keeping myself under control while around the Brooklyn boys I welcomed the release. Besides if I divided, Glimmer could conquer. I knew if I kept his attention I could buy her enough time to get out of there and to meet Skittery. I knew Skittery would be waiting for her back at the Lodging House by now and she was more anxious to get back than to finish the show down with her brother. Glimmer retreated giving me a smile of thanks as she did; she edged away from her brother.
" When are you going to show me Spot?" I retorted. " If you can't handle a strong woman go find a milk sop to swoon over you."
"Ya sayin I can't handle you?" Spot queried raising an eyebrow at the challenge in my voice. "Honey, not only could I handle you, I could handle any part of you I wanted."
"You think?" I asked raising an eyebrow of my own, trying not to smile as I saw Glimmer was down the street too far away for Spot to catch her. If I played my cards right I might even win this argument after all I was fighting with logic, Spot was fighting with over protective big brother anger.
"Ya want me to prove it?" his voice was deadly his body moving toward me as it had when he fought. With the grace of a stalking panther he moved closer, I stood my ground, my blood was singing in my veins as I did. He got within inches of me his hands resting on my hips as he leaned in. "I would, but who says I want to handle you?"
"No one," I breathed playing his game as I leaned closer, I knew he was going to pull away leaving me crackling with the attraction that was spinning around us giving off sparks like a wildfire. I reached up and hooked my hand behind he head, effectively keeping him from finishing his plan. "But I still don't think you could."
As I said it my lips were almost brushing his, abruptly I let go and stepped away. I flashed him an evil grin as I turned to walk away. His eyes flashed and I found my wrists imprisoned and my back pressed against his strong chest.
"I almost did. "He reminded me. I closed my eyes as I remembered the night before, neither of us had slept well I could see it in his eyes when he had met me in the common room. I knew there were circles under my eyes that showed my lack of sleep. It had showed in our selling today and luckily Glimmer had been on fire or we wouldn't have sold all of our papers.
"But you didn't " I reminded him. I knew he wanted to kiss me, I could feel it, but I could also feel the eyes of his boys drilling into us curiously wondering if Spot would work his magic as he had on so many others before me.
"I should've, then maybe I would have been able to put reigns on ya." He said in a dangerous voice, telling me that he was reconsidering his noble actions of the previous night.
"No man will ever hold the reigns." I replied softly. "Just as they never will on your sister."
Spot looked up suddenly realizing that his sister was gone, he cursed as he pushed me away from him.
"Spot, just let her go, if you don't then you might push her to do exactly what you are afraid of." I said quickly turning and putting a hand to his chest. "Threaten to beat Skittery within an inch of his life. Tell him to treat your sister right, send one of your boys to chaperone, but do not tell her she can't see him. Trust me please."
I looked up at him willing him to see what I saw. I knew what she would most likely do. I had been just as hot headed and stubborn, hell I still was just as hot headed and stubborn. He looked at me for a moment not an emotion betrayed on his face.
"I don't like being tricked Briar." He finally said harshly " I know ya just managed to get my little sister away with the boy I don't want her to see."
"Trust me Michael." I said softly using his real name hoping to soften that face that seemed to be carved out of marble. " I know what I am talking about, Glimmer and I are not that different. I know she will rebel and you don't want that, if you think about it I just saved your ass."
"Stop usin those words." He growled in way of answer, I knew I had won, but he was not about to admit it. " Remember ya supposed to be actin like a lady."
"Just be thankful it's not Mush or Jack." I replied. " They have the attention spans of a flea when it comes to women. Kind of like a certain Brooklyn leader."
"What are you sayin?" He asked spinning around on his heel making me almost run into him.
"That you couldn't stay with one woman to save your soul." I teased poking him in the chest.
"If she was a strong woman I might." He whispered giving me a meaningful look. My eyes widened as his words sunk in.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked as he turned away. I felt raw, open and I waited tensed ready for him to tell me that he had no interest in me. I knew he had the power to crush me in that very moment, but he smiled and touched me cheek in caress I was coming to know well.
" I need someone that is worth stayin with and so far they've all been milk sops." He grinned knowing I was still confused. He spoke in riddles that didn't tell me straight out what he meant. " I've met one strong woman, but I don't know if she's the woman for me. I guess I'll have to stick around a bit to find out, if my flea like attention span stays interested."
"Don't toy with me Conlon." I growled stepping away from him.
"Wouldn't dream of it." he told me flashing me a cocky grin and retreating into the Lodging House before I could say a word.
"Damn, " I muttered. " He had to get the last word in didn't he?"
"Get inside, Cameo, it's getting cold and I ain't standin out there." He called as I surveyed the boys who were milling around outside. I didn't respond however as boys who were attacking each other with zest had caught my attention, swinging at each other with sticks as if they were swords. I smiled to myself as I moved closer drawn to the play like a moth to fire.
"You might want to try swinging that at his legs and then attacking his arms." I suggested watching one baseball bat swing at his opponent.
"Girls can't sword fight." His companion told me in a nasty tone.
" I bet I could beat you in sword fight." I told him seriously.
"I bet ya couldn't." he responded. I reached my hand out for the stick one of the boys held in his hand. He hesitated, but his friend nodded arrogantly at him to do as I motioned. I took it and automatically hefted it in my hand testing its weight and balance. It sucked, but what could I expect from a stick? I longed for the balanced rapier I usually fought with.
I could see the boys crowding around, Spot moving from the front door to where I stood cautiously ready to pounce when I couldn't handle it. I couldn't help smiling, boy, wasn't he in for a surprise. The kid took a baseball swing at me and I blocked it easily moving in to stab him in the arm. I had not learned to fight with a broad sword instead opting for the lighter more dance like movements of the rapier. What's the difference you might ask? Well one was more strength, the other more agility. We called the broadsword fighting to our own amusement hack and slash, while the rapier was swishy-poke. As a rapier fighter I would have been no match for a broadsword fighter, but this kid wouldn't have known the pommel from the point had I asked him. He tried again much to the amusement of the older boys, swiftly I moved around his lunge, hooking my foot behind his and spilling him to the ground. I kicked the stick from his hand and triumphantly put the tip of my stick to his throat.
"I win." I told him, he glared at me as I stepped back and gestured to his "sword". "Would you like to try again?"
The boy angrily took the stick and attacked a flurry of easy to block attacks following, I let him wear himself out for a little while before finally disarming him, sending his stick into the crowd.
"Why don't you play with someone a little bigger?" The mocking voice that called from the crowd made my blood boil.
"Pick your best fighter." I sighed patting my hand over my mouth in the universal gesture for boredom. Spot picked up the stick and I grinned my body tensing as I prepared myself for his attack. His movements were swift and if not practiced and I knew that if he had been trained he would have been incredible. As it was he quickly picked up my blocks and attacks after only a few passes.
True rapier fighting was not as they show in the movies. Hollywood has effectively butchered the beauty and style that creates a true rapier fight. Instead they combine the two European styles, using the rapier as both a broadsword and a rapier. There was no hacking in rapier fighting; unlike the broadsword only the first six inches of the blade was sharpened, as it was a weapon made for stabbing. As woman I did not have the strength to truly fight with a broadsword. Which is probably where the idea that a woman was not meant for war came from. A broadsword was the most common weapon used on the battlefield and the shear inertia hacked limbs off when the blade began to dull. I don't care if you are Xenia, a woman competing against a male with a five pound blade swinging at them is not going to be able to have the strength to block it. Broadsword fighting took an upper arm strength that was not afforded to us women when we were created. Men were built stronger in the upper body; few women can take on a man muscle to muscle. They might have been able to use a bow, but the draw on a long bow used in battle was over a hundred pounds. Therefore women fell back on what they could do stay at home and rely on the mother grizzly effect if they were attacked. I learned the only sword fighting a woman might have learned and even at that I had a hard time countering.
Rapier fighting is a series of attacks and counter attacks. Stabs and blocks, maybe a draw cut which should not be confused with a hack. A draw cut you set your blade on the part of their flesh you wished to cut and drew the razor sharp edge back. You did not swing the blade around as you did with a broadsword. You never really disengage, if the fight is a good one you just keep going back and forth until one person is wounded. The hardest part for me was learning to be quick enough to block a blow. A man had taught me and he had not gone any easier on me than he would have on another man. Blocks are sweeps that knock the sword out of the way and if you are good give yourself an opening to attack. I will admit it was hard even with a rapier to recover. I had to work very hard to counter the strength they blocked with and still come back around from it to counter attack. Many, many times I had been stabbed because I had not been able to recover from the block that had swept my blade out. It had taken me a while, but I had learned to be swift or to get the hell out of the way. Finally getting fed up with the fight due to the fact he was not winning he tackled me nearly knocking the wind out of me as I landed.
"Cheater." I laughed, as a murmur went through the crowd. I figured it was the way I was sprawled half under Spot, but I as I blinked up at the sky Mush's head popped into view. He looked like he was out of breath as I saw Blink come to his side, the worry on their faces made me push Spot away and sit up quickly.
"What is it? What's wrong?" I asked wanting to scream, I knew that look, it was the look my father had given me when he told me mom had been in a car accident and was not going to live. The hardest part about her death had been the fact she had lived for a week in horrible pain awake through it all. I had prayed for her death if only to release her from the pain she was in. A prayer I had cursed myself for when she had actually closed her eyes for the last time. Something was wrong, very wrong I could feel it.
"They got Mimic." He said softly still trying to get in a good breath.
"What do you mean?" I cried instantly on my feet, Spot by my side a hand on my shoulder comforting. "Who has Mimic?"
"Ox, he took him today, beat the shit out of Specs to get him." Blink told me as gently as he could. "He was comin here to see ya. We haven't let him come 'cause we've been afraid that Ox would try something. We didn't want him connected to ya. We sent Specs after him."
"What the hell were you thinking?" I cried. "You're worried about him getting hurt and you send one boy off never thinking that Ox already knows he could use Mimic against me. What is wrong with you Jack, I thought you thought of everything golden boy."
I turned my wrath on the Manhattan leader that walked up to us, his face set in a look not unlike any of the others.
"I didn't think..." he began, but I cut him off too sick with worry to care what anyone thought.
"That's right you didn't, if Ox hurts him Jack....." I trailed off my anger and frustration palatable. I was so angry I wanted to cry. "We better get him back."
"We will." Spot assured me, I looked back at him my face conveying my disbelief.
"Ox sent this." Blink said handing me a bit of paper. On one side was a flier for the carnival; the other was a scrawled note that I had to read out loud because it was so badly spelled. I felt the color bleed from my face as the meaning of the words sunk in. Spot's face took on that deadly calm look, his eyes gleaming in a feral way.
Like a snake he had struck when we least expected it. Just as most of us were beginning to think maybe he had had enough in that darkened alleyway when Spot had saved me.
They wanted me; my mind grasped at it, making me feel like a woman in a sappy romance novel, the ultimate cliché. If I turned myself into them they would release Mimic. My breathing came in gasps, my head spun and black spots appeared. This was no sappy romance novel; if they got a hold of me I would be dead. This was real life and I knew that heroic rescues only happened in a story. This was the choice one should never have to make. Who would live, Mimic or me?
"I'm not afraid to die." I heard my own voice echo back at me. I hadn't been, I hadn't cared enough to be afraid, but then I hadn't actually been faced with it.
Cards: My chapter is huggeling you back! I'm glad you liked it. When are you going to update World Pizza?
Chelci: You got a snuggle and a show down.... with enough time to sneak off with Skittery.
Falco: Yay for me! Waffles, yummy! Okay, okay, he's very sexy. Hope this one was good too.
Fearless: I'll try to live without you, I don't know what I will do! Hope that when you can read this you like it!
Ali: I am apologizing to your French teacher in advance. Actually I guess it's too late for advance, so I'm just sending my apologies. Thank you, you're reviews really mean a lot to me and to this story! I read and reviewed hope you keep it going!
Dreamer: I'm always beating myself up about my writing; it's never good enough for me. Oh well, I'm glad it's good enough for someone. Enjoy!
Rumor: What long reviews you have Grandma. I love it, the longer the better! I wrote more so I want another review! I hope I don't get rid of you. Thanks.
JP: Where are you? Hope you feel better!
I had never been to the east coast in the fall and the colors amazed me. In Colorado we have some of the color, there are trees that change into those amazing colors of fall, and we have the aspens for crying out loud. There are people who go to Aspen, Colorado just to see the golden color of the leaves, but when you live in Colorado the novelty of it never hits you. As with most things that are right in front of your face you don't realized the beauty of what is right around you, when you see it all the time. Which might explain Spots amusement when I woke up one morning and looked out the window to find an explosion of color. I didn't know that trees really turned that color of bright red, or that color of brilliant orange.
I was positively giddy when I looked around as we made our daily trek to the distribution center in Brooklyn. Normally I walked like a zombie, not really looking around and not really wanting to, we had to pass through parts of town I wouldn't be caught dead in by myself. Actually I would be caught and dead if I walked through there by myself. No more late night romps to calm my nerves like I had taken in Manhattan, I could take care of myself, but at the same time I wasn't stupid.
The colors swirled around me like an artist's canvas of reds, golds, oranges, and leaves made their silent swirling descent to the ground. It had snuck up on me and I was so excited I practically danced instead of walked. Glimmer watched me with a small smile on her face, Spot just shook his head and the other boys shied away from me like skittish horses.
There was one aspect of me my mother made me promise before her death that I would never loose and that was the ability to look at the world through the eyes of a child. I had never really been a child more of an adult trapped in a child's body, but there were always the moments when I could loose myself in the joy of the world as only a child can. I could find wonders when I chose to look in everything especially nature. She had loved that part of me, taking me to the mountains or on special excursions just to watch me dance with joy. For the first time since her death I found the memory wasn't followed with the heartbreaking pain that always accompanied thoughts of her. Instead it had become a beautiful memory tinged with sadness at her passing, but I had learned to move on and remember her. I smiled to myself as Spot handed me my share of the papers and I followed him, Glimmer was at my side to our selling spot. As we did every day we split up always with in view of each other, but with enough space for us all to work our magic on the crowd.
The sky was clouding over as we broke for the day and headed back for the Lodging House. Glimmer and I chattered while we walked as girls as do, Spot was only half listening until one particular subject caught his attention. I had brought up Skittery both of us figuring he was too far ahead at that point to really hear what we were saying. Her face was glowing as she told me about the previous night she had spent with him while Jack and I had been keeping her older brother busy. She had been almost grateful for the attention I had brought upon myself it gave her more of a chance to slip away without Spot noticing.
"Whatta ya mean ya went for a walk with Skittery down at the docks?" Spot demanded his eyes as cool as the wind that was biting through my warn shirt as if it were nothing.
"We went for a walk, it was nothin." Glimmer said quickly looking at me for help. I shrugged unsure of how to handle over protective big brothers, I had never had one and I had never been the over protective older sibling. My brother and sister made it clear that I was not to be involved in their lives.
"Went for a walk?" Spot growled. " I've been for a walk down by the docks before, I know all about walks down by the docks."
"Just because she's going for a walk with a boy does not mean she's doing anything other than walking." I broke in coming to Glimmer's defense. "Just because she is spending time in the company of a boy does not mean she's acting as you would."
I had had enough of men who assumed the worst of women. It was a stupid double standard. Women were supposed to have the ability to stop a man as if their emotions were not all tied up in everything. As if they weren't confused by the emotions and the urges that if they acted on would brand them as a slut. Yet at the same time they weren't believed to have the brains God promised an oyster, therefore it was expected they would allow a man anything he wanted. So they were expected to stop a man, but then not expected to actually stop him. Why couldn't the man try to control himself? He according to the standards he had all the power here, but no men were not only expected to 'sow their oats', they were almost encouraged to. It was a double standard that was not new, some things hadn't changed that much, but I found it no less frustrating.
"Ya ain't gonna see Skittery any more Gabrielle." He said in a tone that would have made the strongest of men cower. It frustrated me that he was ignoring my input and I glared at him.
"Ya ain't gonna stop me." She replied stomping her foot and giving him a mutinous look.
"I'll lock ya in the broom closet if I gotta." Spot snapped his eyes on me, but his words for Glimmer. " I know what kinda guy he is, I know more about his girls than you care to know little girl."
" I know about his girls, I know how he treated girls remember I've been around him my whole life, but I ain't gonna be like them. She retorted. "He don't treat me like that. Ya ain't gonna stop me from seein him."
"I can do what I like, ya think he's gonna keep comin around if I tell him not to?" Spot asked, "Do ya think if I tell Jack that Skittery's not allowed around here or it means war with Brooklyn, Skittery will come still? Na, he'll forget all about ya and find some other broad."
"He won't forget about me." Glimmer hissed. "And ya wouldn't dare."
"Whatta ya gonna do to stop me?" Spot's voice was the cocky one of a man who knows he's got the upper hand.
"Stop!" I cried making them both look up from where they stood toe to toe and eye to eye each vying for the upper hand. "Look Spot if you're so worried about it have one of your boys watch them both. Then Glimmer can see Skittery and you can make sure nothing is happening."
"You stay out of it." he responded his anger now turned full force on me. I had forgotten the greatest of all rules when dealing with siblings, never ever jump into an argument.
"I will not stay out of it," I snapped not one to back down because some hotheaded, arrogant ass was yelling, just who did he think he was? "You are being an egotistical prick. First of all I can't believe you would accuse your sister, who you know better than anyone else of having relations with someone. You just accused her without a shred of proof, just the fact that she is interested him. News flash, she's old enough to marry, she's going to be interested in boys, if she wasn't you should be worried. Secondly if you pulled your head out of your ass you would see that forbidding her to see him is only going to make him more interesting and more likely to do what you are afraid she will do. Thirdly she's got to grow up some time Spot, she's not a little girl anymore face it. Eventually she will grow up, get married, and have babies, because that's all you over bearing men will let us do."
"When ya gonna learn ya place Cameo?" Spot asked that smirk I loved to hate back on his face. I found I was itching for a fight, so tired of keeping myself under control while around the Brooklyn boys I welcomed the release. Besides if I divided, Glimmer could conquer. I knew if I kept his attention I could buy her enough time to get out of there and to meet Skittery. I knew Skittery would be waiting for her back at the Lodging House by now and she was more anxious to get back than to finish the show down with her brother. Glimmer retreated giving me a smile of thanks as she did; she edged away from her brother.
" When are you going to show me Spot?" I retorted. " If you can't handle a strong woman go find a milk sop to swoon over you."
"Ya sayin I can't handle you?" Spot queried raising an eyebrow at the challenge in my voice. "Honey, not only could I handle you, I could handle any part of you I wanted."
"You think?" I asked raising an eyebrow of my own, trying not to smile as I saw Glimmer was down the street too far away for Spot to catch her. If I played my cards right I might even win this argument after all I was fighting with logic, Spot was fighting with over protective big brother anger.
"Ya want me to prove it?" his voice was deadly his body moving toward me as it had when he fought. With the grace of a stalking panther he moved closer, I stood my ground, my blood was singing in my veins as I did. He got within inches of me his hands resting on my hips as he leaned in. "I would, but who says I want to handle you?"
"No one," I breathed playing his game as I leaned closer, I knew he was going to pull away leaving me crackling with the attraction that was spinning around us giving off sparks like a wildfire. I reached up and hooked my hand behind he head, effectively keeping him from finishing his plan. "But I still don't think you could."
As I said it my lips were almost brushing his, abruptly I let go and stepped away. I flashed him an evil grin as I turned to walk away. His eyes flashed and I found my wrists imprisoned and my back pressed against his strong chest.
"I almost did. "He reminded me. I closed my eyes as I remembered the night before, neither of us had slept well I could see it in his eyes when he had met me in the common room. I knew there were circles under my eyes that showed my lack of sleep. It had showed in our selling today and luckily Glimmer had been on fire or we wouldn't have sold all of our papers.
"But you didn't " I reminded him. I knew he wanted to kiss me, I could feel it, but I could also feel the eyes of his boys drilling into us curiously wondering if Spot would work his magic as he had on so many others before me.
"I should've, then maybe I would have been able to put reigns on ya." He said in a dangerous voice, telling me that he was reconsidering his noble actions of the previous night.
"No man will ever hold the reigns." I replied softly. "Just as they never will on your sister."
Spot looked up suddenly realizing that his sister was gone, he cursed as he pushed me away from him.
"Spot, just let her go, if you don't then you might push her to do exactly what you are afraid of." I said quickly turning and putting a hand to his chest. "Threaten to beat Skittery within an inch of his life. Tell him to treat your sister right, send one of your boys to chaperone, but do not tell her she can't see him. Trust me please."
I looked up at him willing him to see what I saw. I knew what she would most likely do. I had been just as hot headed and stubborn, hell I still was just as hot headed and stubborn. He looked at me for a moment not an emotion betrayed on his face.
"I don't like being tricked Briar." He finally said harshly " I know ya just managed to get my little sister away with the boy I don't want her to see."
"Trust me Michael." I said softly using his real name hoping to soften that face that seemed to be carved out of marble. " I know what I am talking about, Glimmer and I are not that different. I know she will rebel and you don't want that, if you think about it I just saved your ass."
"Stop usin those words." He growled in way of answer, I knew I had won, but he was not about to admit it. " Remember ya supposed to be actin like a lady."
"Just be thankful it's not Mush or Jack." I replied. " They have the attention spans of a flea when it comes to women. Kind of like a certain Brooklyn leader."
"What are you sayin?" He asked spinning around on his heel making me almost run into him.
"That you couldn't stay with one woman to save your soul." I teased poking him in the chest.
"If she was a strong woman I might." He whispered giving me a meaningful look. My eyes widened as his words sunk in.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked as he turned away. I felt raw, open and I waited tensed ready for him to tell me that he had no interest in me. I knew he had the power to crush me in that very moment, but he smiled and touched me cheek in caress I was coming to know well.
" I need someone that is worth stayin with and so far they've all been milk sops." He grinned knowing I was still confused. He spoke in riddles that didn't tell me straight out what he meant. " I've met one strong woman, but I don't know if she's the woman for me. I guess I'll have to stick around a bit to find out, if my flea like attention span stays interested."
"Don't toy with me Conlon." I growled stepping away from him.
"Wouldn't dream of it." he told me flashing me a cocky grin and retreating into the Lodging House before I could say a word.
"Damn, " I muttered. " He had to get the last word in didn't he?"
"Get inside, Cameo, it's getting cold and I ain't standin out there." He called as I surveyed the boys who were milling around outside. I didn't respond however as boys who were attacking each other with zest had caught my attention, swinging at each other with sticks as if they were swords. I smiled to myself as I moved closer drawn to the play like a moth to fire.
"You might want to try swinging that at his legs and then attacking his arms." I suggested watching one baseball bat swing at his opponent.
"Girls can't sword fight." His companion told me in a nasty tone.
" I bet I could beat you in sword fight." I told him seriously.
"I bet ya couldn't." he responded. I reached my hand out for the stick one of the boys held in his hand. He hesitated, but his friend nodded arrogantly at him to do as I motioned. I took it and automatically hefted it in my hand testing its weight and balance. It sucked, but what could I expect from a stick? I longed for the balanced rapier I usually fought with.
I could see the boys crowding around, Spot moving from the front door to where I stood cautiously ready to pounce when I couldn't handle it. I couldn't help smiling, boy, wasn't he in for a surprise. The kid took a baseball swing at me and I blocked it easily moving in to stab him in the arm. I had not learned to fight with a broad sword instead opting for the lighter more dance like movements of the rapier. What's the difference you might ask? Well one was more strength, the other more agility. We called the broadsword fighting to our own amusement hack and slash, while the rapier was swishy-poke. As a rapier fighter I would have been no match for a broadsword fighter, but this kid wouldn't have known the pommel from the point had I asked him. He tried again much to the amusement of the older boys, swiftly I moved around his lunge, hooking my foot behind his and spilling him to the ground. I kicked the stick from his hand and triumphantly put the tip of my stick to his throat.
"I win." I told him, he glared at me as I stepped back and gestured to his "sword". "Would you like to try again?"
The boy angrily took the stick and attacked a flurry of easy to block attacks following, I let him wear himself out for a little while before finally disarming him, sending his stick into the crowd.
"Why don't you play with someone a little bigger?" The mocking voice that called from the crowd made my blood boil.
"Pick your best fighter." I sighed patting my hand over my mouth in the universal gesture for boredom. Spot picked up the stick and I grinned my body tensing as I prepared myself for his attack. His movements were swift and if not practiced and I knew that if he had been trained he would have been incredible. As it was he quickly picked up my blocks and attacks after only a few passes.
True rapier fighting was not as they show in the movies. Hollywood has effectively butchered the beauty and style that creates a true rapier fight. Instead they combine the two European styles, using the rapier as both a broadsword and a rapier. There was no hacking in rapier fighting; unlike the broadsword only the first six inches of the blade was sharpened, as it was a weapon made for stabbing. As woman I did not have the strength to truly fight with a broadsword. Which is probably where the idea that a woman was not meant for war came from. A broadsword was the most common weapon used on the battlefield and the shear inertia hacked limbs off when the blade began to dull. I don't care if you are Xenia, a woman competing against a male with a five pound blade swinging at them is not going to be able to have the strength to block it. Broadsword fighting took an upper arm strength that was not afforded to us women when we were created. Men were built stronger in the upper body; few women can take on a man muscle to muscle. They might have been able to use a bow, but the draw on a long bow used in battle was over a hundred pounds. Therefore women fell back on what they could do stay at home and rely on the mother grizzly effect if they were attacked. I learned the only sword fighting a woman might have learned and even at that I had a hard time countering.
Rapier fighting is a series of attacks and counter attacks. Stabs and blocks, maybe a draw cut which should not be confused with a hack. A draw cut you set your blade on the part of their flesh you wished to cut and drew the razor sharp edge back. You did not swing the blade around as you did with a broadsword. You never really disengage, if the fight is a good one you just keep going back and forth until one person is wounded. The hardest part for me was learning to be quick enough to block a blow. A man had taught me and he had not gone any easier on me than he would have on another man. Blocks are sweeps that knock the sword out of the way and if you are good give yourself an opening to attack. I will admit it was hard even with a rapier to recover. I had to work very hard to counter the strength they blocked with and still come back around from it to counter attack. Many, many times I had been stabbed because I had not been able to recover from the block that had swept my blade out. It had taken me a while, but I had learned to be swift or to get the hell out of the way. Finally getting fed up with the fight due to the fact he was not winning he tackled me nearly knocking the wind out of me as I landed.
"Cheater." I laughed, as a murmur went through the crowd. I figured it was the way I was sprawled half under Spot, but I as I blinked up at the sky Mush's head popped into view. He looked like he was out of breath as I saw Blink come to his side, the worry on their faces made me push Spot away and sit up quickly.
"What is it? What's wrong?" I asked wanting to scream, I knew that look, it was the look my father had given me when he told me mom had been in a car accident and was not going to live. The hardest part about her death had been the fact she had lived for a week in horrible pain awake through it all. I had prayed for her death if only to release her from the pain she was in. A prayer I had cursed myself for when she had actually closed her eyes for the last time. Something was wrong, very wrong I could feel it.
"They got Mimic." He said softly still trying to get in a good breath.
"What do you mean?" I cried instantly on my feet, Spot by my side a hand on my shoulder comforting. "Who has Mimic?"
"Ox, he took him today, beat the shit out of Specs to get him." Blink told me as gently as he could. "He was comin here to see ya. We haven't let him come 'cause we've been afraid that Ox would try something. We didn't want him connected to ya. We sent Specs after him."
"What the hell were you thinking?" I cried. "You're worried about him getting hurt and you send one boy off never thinking that Ox already knows he could use Mimic against me. What is wrong with you Jack, I thought you thought of everything golden boy."
I turned my wrath on the Manhattan leader that walked up to us, his face set in a look not unlike any of the others.
"I didn't think..." he began, but I cut him off too sick with worry to care what anyone thought.
"That's right you didn't, if Ox hurts him Jack....." I trailed off my anger and frustration palatable. I was so angry I wanted to cry. "We better get him back."
"We will." Spot assured me, I looked back at him my face conveying my disbelief.
"Ox sent this." Blink said handing me a bit of paper. On one side was a flier for the carnival; the other was a scrawled note that I had to read out loud because it was so badly spelled. I felt the color bleed from my face as the meaning of the words sunk in. Spot's face took on that deadly calm look, his eyes gleaming in a feral way.
Like a snake he had struck when we least expected it. Just as most of us were beginning to think maybe he had had enough in that darkened alleyway when Spot had saved me.
They wanted me; my mind grasped at it, making me feel like a woman in a sappy romance novel, the ultimate cliché. If I turned myself into them they would release Mimic. My breathing came in gasps, my head spun and black spots appeared. This was no sappy romance novel; if they got a hold of me I would be dead. This was real life and I knew that heroic rescues only happened in a story. This was the choice one should never have to make. Who would live, Mimic or me?
"I'm not afraid to die." I heard my own voice echo back at me. I hadn't been, I hadn't cared enough to be afraid, but then I hadn't actually been faced with it.
Cards: My chapter is huggeling you back! I'm glad you liked it. When are you going to update World Pizza?
Chelci: You got a snuggle and a show down.... with enough time to sneak off with Skittery.
Falco: Yay for me! Waffles, yummy! Okay, okay, he's very sexy. Hope this one was good too.
Fearless: I'll try to live without you, I don't know what I will do! Hope that when you can read this you like it!
Ali: I am apologizing to your French teacher in advance. Actually I guess it's too late for advance, so I'm just sending my apologies. Thank you, you're reviews really mean a lot to me and to this story! I read and reviewed hope you keep it going!
Dreamer: I'm always beating myself up about my writing; it's never good enough for me. Oh well, I'm glad it's good enough for someone. Enjoy!
Rumor: What long reviews you have Grandma. I love it, the longer the better! I wrote more so I want another review! I hope I don't get rid of you. Thanks.
JP: Where are you? Hope you feel better!